Obama taps 2 more for federal appeals courts

[usregimechange]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated a federal judge from Maryland and another from New York to serve on U.S. appeals courts, moving to change the political balance of both courts.

The Maryland judge, Andre Davis, would serve on the Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals if confirmed by the Senate. His confirmation would give the circuit six Democratic-appointed and six Republican-named judges, leaving three vacancies. The court has handled cases involving terrorism defendants or detainees.

Gerard Lynch would fill the only vacancy on the New York-centered 2nd Circuit, giving the court seven Democratic and six Republican judges. The court often presides over Wall Street-related financial cases.

"Judges Lynch and Davis are two jurists with exceptional records of integrity and fairness," Obama said in a statement. "They will be voices of reason and evenhandedness on the Second and Fourth Circuits."

There currently are 15 vacancies in federal appeals courts covering 12 geographically based circuits. The courts often provide the last word on a variety of issues affecting Americans. Their decisions cover, among other matters, civil rights, searches and seizures, age and gender discrimination, religious liberty, capital punishment, abortion, gay rights, corporate wrongdoing, review of federal regulations and terrorism.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_JUDICIARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT



Judge Andre Maurice Davis
60 years old
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_M._Davis
http://www.mdd.uscourts.gov/publications/JudgesBio/Davis.htm

The new 4th Circuit composition would be:
6 Republican appointees
5 Democratic appointees
3 vacancies
1 Dual party appointee (Clinton for district, Bush for circuit)




Judge Gerard Lynch
58 years old
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_E._Lynch
http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=2866
http://www.law.columbia.edu/fac/Gerard_Lynch

The new 2nd Circuit composition would be:
6 Republican appointees
7 Democratic appointees
(creating the second circuit court in the country out of 15 with Dem majority, the 9th circuit being the other)

[usregimechange]

1. White House announcement:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-Judge-Gerard-Lynch-for-United-States-Court-of-Appeals-for-the-Second-Circuit-Judge-Andre-Davis-for-the-United-States-Court-of-Appeals-for-the-Fourth-Circuit/

[Uzybone]

2. Sound like very good judges

Davis: Davis told the Baltimore Sun in an article that was published on October 12, 2000 that "I want the loser -- and I know there's always going to be a loser, that's the nature of the beast -- but I want the loser to be able to say, 'I lost, but I was heard, and I believe that judge gave me every consideration in hearing my side.'"


Lynch:Judge Lynch presided over the perjury trial of rap artist Lil' Kim in 2005. He sentenced her to 366 days in jail.<1>Judge Lynch is also an active participant in Legal Outreach, a non-for-profit organization in which he mentors inner-city kids in New York.

[usregimechange]

3. And as judges go they are fairly young, not much information out there about them yet...

[FrenchieCat]

4. This is the good part that will make a different for years to come,

the picking of great fair judges!

[usregimechange]

8. Who are young and will transform the judiciary for years

[DarthDem]

5. Outstanding Nominations

I've appeared in front of Judge Davis - - he was fantastic. Wrote a key ADA decision in which he really analyzed the law; he is a sterling advocate for civil rights, exactly what the formerly wingnut-dominated Fourth Circuit really needs.

The composition of the new Fourth Circuit will actually be 6-6, a tie between Rethugs and Dems. The one "dual party appointee" is Circuit Judge Roger Gregory, who was a recess appointment of Clinton's to the Fourth Circuit, later renominated by The Chimp in a deal with Senate Dems. Gregory, like Davis, is African-American and a very good judge.

Not only that, but there will still be three vacancies on this court after that - - it's authorized by 15 active judges, but Davis' confirmation will only fill 12 seats. Dumbya lost this court for the wingnuts for a long, loooooooong time. It's really, really fantastic.

Judge Lynch is by all accounts a very good judge, and keeps the Second Circuit as a solidly left-leaning court.

Ah, this is part of what is was all about for me - - the judges. More! More! Thank you so much, Mr. President.

[Ian David]

6. Yeah, but isn't it time Judge Judy got a promotion? n/t

[gmoney]

19. I think it's time Judge Judy got "tapped"

I always snicker when they talk about when the president "taps" this person or that.

[mkultra]

22. ugh. i can hear that gravely voice saying "can i see your briefs"

[usregimechange]

7. Thanks for the additional info

[usregimechange]

9. The DOJ doesn't read DU or the paper apparently:

http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/judicialnominations111.htm

[usregimechange]

10. Is this not the best news since the election? Where is the interest?

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Interest is only shown when Obama does something DUers don't like.

[usregimechange]

13. It seems so, this is a major reason why I knocked on hundreds of doors in 08

[geek tragedy]

12. The PissyPants brigade doesn't want him to do right.

Then they can't bitch.

[dsc]

14. These are good appointments

I hope that NC can get its act together on this (I think we are 2 of the 3 vacancies) on the 4th. NC is woefully underrepresented on this court thanks to Helms' and later Dole's antics with judges.

[usregimechange]

15. Does he have to pick from NC judges or just judges in the 4th?

[dsc]

16. He doesn't have to pick from NC

but traditionally they try to get a rough quote of judges from each place for the appeals court. NC has been shorted due to their own political machinations. Hopefully we can rectify that now that Hagan is in and Helms and Dole are out.

[usregimechange]

17. Someone that Sen. Burr needs to approve of?

[dsc]

20. actually just Hagan

but Burr could use various Senatorial priviledges to hold up any judicial nominations for a period of time.

[blueclown]

18. Hopefully both of them have a good 20 years each on the court.

Reading about them, they both seem like exceptional choices for the appeals courts.

[Median Democrat]

21. So, Has The Rightwing Called Them Ultra Liberals, Yet? Or, Did They Come Up With A New Label?

How about:

1. Mega Liberals
2. Liberalasaurus
3. Uber-Liberal
4. Six Flags! More Liberal! More Fun!